The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

\ PAGE 18 - PLAINDEALER - WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER N, 1997 | Fire-Emergency Tip's' [ (A series of articles on fire prevention and other emergencies written for your information by the Firefighters of Co. No. 1, McHenry.) Check That Impulse Some people cannot cope with an emergency. They freeze with fright and remain motionless, unable to help themselves or anyone else who might be in danger. igh, plunge often without thought the first reaction is the worst to the location of anyone in the side will let you know if everyone has esca Most people, thougr of the consequences. Too reaction. Diving Can Be Foolhardy Hie impulse to dive in to save someone from drowning can be so strong that other safer methods of rescue are ova-looked. • Two Indiana sisters tried to save their three-year-old brother from drowning in a river near their home by diving in after him. They managed to push their brother to safety but were unable to save themselves from being swept away by the powerful current. In this case, as in many others, impulsive action led to unnecessary risk. Diving in after a struggling swimmer should always be a last resort. A more sensible and safe rescue can be accomplished by throwing the victim a buoyant object to cling to, such as a beach ball, inner tube, wood (dank or tree limb. There's No Going Back In a fire, impulse can lead to daring, but often tragic, rescue attempts. A Georgia man who had escaped his burning home re­ entered the building to save his two teenage sons. He died looking for the boys, who were not even home at the time. If you have escaped a burning building, check any impulse to go back in. Obviously it is difficult to convince a fear-crazed parent not to return to a flaming home in search of a child. Yet the result of such an action is all too often a compounded tragedy. By remaining outside the building, you can direct fire fighters ling. A pre-arranged famil meeting place outsi Behind Closed Doors Probably the most common reaction to fire is immediate escape through the nearest door. But closed doors shut out superheated gases and suffocating smoke that can overwhelm and kill you auno6t instantly if the door is flung open. If smoke is coming from under a door or you suspect there is a fire on the other side, feel the door and knob to see if either is warm. If so, seek another escape route. Think Before You Leap In some cases a leap from a window may seem like your only chance to escape a threatening blaze. Yet fire fighters will tell Sou that unless you are on or near ground level, or the fire is eking at your heels, you are usually .better off if you don't jump. In one hotel fire, while frantic residents were jumping from windows in futile attempts to save themselves, a couple on the twelfth floor barricaded the door with a wet mattress and blanket. They huddled in the smoke-filled room, breathing through a small opening in the window, for four hours until they were rescued. In a home fire, leaning out the window and yelling will usually bring rescue. If the fire forces you out, your best bet is not to jump but to hang from an outside windowsill and drop to the ground. 1*1 Yourself Go Out for a brisk walk, you catch your shoe on an unexpected high curb and suddenly you're headed for the pavement. In an almost reflex reaction, your body tenses for the impact. Fight that n*lex. Those who know how to fall--gymnasts, ;ency driving situation. :es. In one simulated acrobats and parachutists-- know that tensing is the way to broken bones. Don't stiffen up and topple like a tree. Relax and crumble like a sack, rolling on the fleshy parts of the body. Threatened By A Dog Curb any impulse to run from an aggressive dog. Canines have an inborn chase instinct that causes them to be tremendously excited by motion. If you run, a dog will almost invariably pursue you. Don't try to escape from a threatening dog--stand still. Keep your hands down at your sides and let the dog sniff you. The sound of a low, reassuring voice can often "talk" a dog out of attacking. To Brake Or Not to Brake Studies have shown that in an em< most drivers impulsively hit the emergency, a plastic barrel representing a pedestrian was suddenly thrown into the path of each of thirty-four drivers traveling at ah average speed of 54 mph. One out of four of the drivers lost control of his car. Most just hit their brakes. Some attempted to steer after hitting the brakes, but very few tried to steer around the barrel before braking. In an emergency, the impulse to slam on the brakes and thereby lock the wheels can < Of course, in some cases, brakes the better. Sometimes, though, you >ination of soi and another maneuver is required. But how, when split-seconds count, can you control the impulse to brake when it could be the best thing you can do? The answer is don't arrest that impulse at the final moment--do it long before. As you drive, anticipate emergencies that could very likely confront you. TTien be prepared to take appropriate action. Let It Drop If It's Sharp Or Hot One of the most innocent unthinking reactions can get you into trouble. When something--an egg, a cup, a can--starts to roll off a shelf or counter, your impulse is to catch it and then breathe a * of relief. an cause you to lose control of your car. i, the less time you lose in hitting the >times, though, you shouldn't brake at all. And at other times, a combination of some! type of braking it there are some things that you shouldn't attempt to catch, harn knife, a hot skillet or a pane of glass ana you'll end up with a baa burn or a bloody gash. Better that the mess is on the floor. Hands Off When The Power's On Last April, a teenage girl touched a sunlamp as she stepped from the bathtub. Shocked into unconsciousness, she was thrown back into the tub and under the water. Her father and mother, who heard the crash from another room, dashed to their daughter's aid. The father grabbed the girl, but a surge of current sent him reeling across the room. Her mother, with more presence of mind, pulled the lamp plug. The girl was rescued and subsequently revived by paramedics. That was a happy ending, but many cases of electrical shock become double and even triple deaths when well-meaning rescuers touch an electrified victim without thought of the consequences. If the electric shock involves house current, the first thing you should do is pull the plug from the outlet--as the girl's mother did. However, if the victim is touching a downed power line, the problem is more complicated. While one rescuer contacts the utility company to get the power cut, another should attempt to move the line with a loop of dry rope or a dry stick. However, a tree branch is not necessarily dry; green wood can conduct electricity. The important thing to remember is that the well- intentioned urge to rush up and grab the victim is the wrong one if he is still in contact with the electrical source. Getting first aid to an injured person may mean the difference between life and death. But impulsive reaction to a crisis while in a state of panic only escalates the problem. A few seconds of reflection can produce the calm, reasoned response that can save a life. TIDY STOCKS OVER1,000 ROLLS- r-and well install by Christmas.That's( another promise Tidy will keep! New Soft, Silky Fashion Look in Carpet Soft Touch... subtly patterned ) You'll want to touch it because the finish is so "caressable". Yet it's long-wearing, easy to keep clean . with the rich texture locked in to stay The graceful free-form pattern flows gently across the thick pile in understated fashion, accented with loop-pile carvings. Tough, durable Du Pont nylon pile 14 high fashion colormixes. 4-Day Sale! PHIIXDEIPHIA *qso ; Does not include padding • or installation. _ DECEMBER 1, 2, 3, and 4 ONLY. 1 PRICE APPLYS TO STOCK ONLY 200 WASHINGT0N/W00DST0CKf ILLINOIS/815-338-1000 HOURS: Monday, Thursday, Friday 8-9; Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday 8-5; Sunday 12-5 Conservation News (McCullom Lake) Foresee RTA Dilemma Schaffer Bill Would Aid Service Station Owners Community Auction The McCullom Lake Con­ servation club will sponsor an auction Sunday, Dec. 4, at the McCullom Lake beach house on Orchard Drive at 12:30 p.m. Donors may participate two ways: (1) Outright donations of items, or (2) Consignment items, the donor receiving 80 percent, and 20 percent going to the McCullom Lake dredge fund. All items, new or used, are welcome, such as handicrafts, household articles, appliances, antiques, furniture, power tools, etc. Be sure to specify, if items are outright donations, or consignment, (no clothing or mattresses please, state law). Pick up of large items can be arranged, within a five-mile radius. Small items can be brought to the McCullom Beach house all day Saturday, Dec. 3. If pick-up service is needed, or more information is needed, please contact any of the following conservation members: Mrs. Harold (Audis) Bowlin (coordinator), William Buhrman, William Mohlman, John Lucarz, Mrs. Charles (Joyce) Larson, Eugene Huff, Jerry Raycraft or Jim Then- nes. All proceeds go to the Mc­ Cullom Lake Conservation dredge fund. Lunch and beverage, served on grounds, auctioneer will be Herb Heritage. For all yoq auction buffs out there plan to spend the day, let's make this an all out effort to replenish the dredge fund. Several items are already on the sale list, such as antiques, dishwasher, stove, and more. Please plan to attend. » Fish Derby The annual fish derby, sponsored by the McCullom Lake Conservation club will be Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 4-5 at the McCullom Lake beach house. More definite information on prizes at a later date. The Beach Gals of McCullom Lake will again be in charge of lunch and refreshments. President Jerry Raycraft informs that the state fishery biologist, Harvey Brown, shocked McCullom Lake Oct. 6- 7, with the following results: There is a good supply of northern < some 24 to 38 inches), blue gills good size and healthy, perch up to 8 inches some channel cat, and bass. In spite of the severe freeze and winter kill experienced by most lakes. we were lucky. So please plan to attend the derby. Ice Fishing Shacks Anyone putting ice fishing shacks on McCullom Lake must have their name and address on the shack. Dredge L'p-Date To continue from last week. At the Nov. 17 Conservation meeting, it was agreed to beach the dredge for the winter. The dredge will not be in operation until spring. During the winter months, more planning will be done to try and make spring operations run more smoothly. Attention will now focus on other problems such as pollution, silting, finding and making use of additional water supply, preservation of watershed and drainage dit­ ches, possible sources of ad­ ditional funding. There is a busy winter ahead, with much to be done. Continued next week. Conservation Meeting The next regular meeting of the McCullom Lake Con­ servation club will be Thur­ sday, Dec. 15, at the McCullom Lake beach house at 8 p.m. Mrs. Harold (Audis) Bowlin 4802 W. Shore Drive Senator Jack Schaffer, R- Cary, has pre-filed a bill in the General Assembly which would provide monetary help to service station owners whose businesses will be hurt by the RTA gas tax. "The economic impact-the losses that will be sustained~by service station operators in the collar counties," said Senator Schaffer. "will be devastating and we must do something to help them," Senator Schaffer said that in the Wisconsin area-right now~ gasoline is selling for up to four cents a gallon less than in bordering counties in Illinois. "In Indiana," said Senator Schaffer* "I understand the situation is even worse. In areas like McHenry county, that border on Boone county, there'll be at least a three-cent difference. When the RTA imposes the 5 percent gas tax in the six-county area, there'll probably be a ten-cent-a-gallon price differential across the Wisconsin and Indiana state lines." Senator Schaffer said that in a recent poll taken in the collar counties, 75 percent of the people questioned indicated that they would change, their gas-buying habits when the RTA gas tax goes into effect. "As a result," said Senator Schaffer, "it's my opinion that a number of service stations will be hurt or wiped out. I don't think the government has the right to impose a tax that will certainly hurt or destroy successful service station businesses without some kind of compensation." Senator Schaffer said he hoped his bill would be ap­ proved and that the RTA board will act in a reasonable manner and will assist service station operators who will be put out of business. Senator Schaffer said that, under his bill, the RTA board would have broad powers as to how service station owners should be compensated for his losses. "Obviously a service station in the inner city," said Senator Schaffer, "is going to be af­ fected very little, but the closer you get to the Wisconsin and Indiana borders and Illinois counties that do not have the RTA gas tax, the larger the impact." t.w. Gardner Expansion Planned In f" senior Photo Service Crop Reporting Robert W. Gardner, Solon Mills, is receiving a certificate of appreciation for completing thirty years of reporting to the Illinois Cooperative Crop Reporting service. In the recent announcement, James R. Kendall, statistician, stressed the value of the reporters. They report weekly on local weather conditions, what work farmers are doing, and how crop planting, growing and harvesting are coming along. Gardner, who operates a dairy farm operation with his son, David, west of Solon Mills, is very active in many farm organizations including the State Dairy Heard Im­ provement association board, Association Milk Producers Inc., regional delegate, president of the board of McHenry F.S., Inc., and Illinois Holstein Fresian board mehnber. The Secretary of State's office during the months of September and October issued the new Illinois Photo Iden­ tification card to more than 1,500 senior citizens at Senior Citizen centers in six downstate counties, Secretary jUan J. Dixon has announced. For the first time in Illinois history, non-drivers may receive an official iden­ tification with a photo which will help them cash checks, establish credit or determine age where proof is important. The new card is free to Illinois citizens 65 and older. There is a fee for those under 65. ._ Dixon realizes that it is not possible for many senior citizens to get to one of the driver services facilities in the state. Therefore, this extended service is offered to make it possible for these citizens to receive the I.D. card at a Senior Citizen center. After reviewing the results of this pilot project in extended service, Dixon feels that the program benefits many senior citizens in Illinois and plans to expand this service statewide. WHAT S NEW A two-place sports car "complete auto body kit" that can be bolted onto a Volkswagen chassis. Pur­ chaser provides engine, mounts components, in­ stalls wiring and ventilation packages, makes engine connections. AsstmWw--*. takes si* to eight weeks, manufacturer says. The Nutcracker Suite Ballet November 25-December 23, 1977 The Woodstock Opera House Thursday" and Friday 2nd - 7 00 P M 9th - 7 00 P M 16th - 7 00 P M 22nd - 2 00 and 7 00 PM 23rd - 2:00 and 7 00 P M Price* Reservations. - u j PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE December Saturday 3rd - 2 00 and 7:00 P M 10th - 2 00 and 7 00 P M 17th - 2 00 and 7 00 P M TICKETS AND RESERVATIONS Sunday 4th - 2 00 and 7 00 P M 11th --.200 and 7:00 F^i 18th - 2 00 and 7:00 P M .. Adults. $5 00: Children 'Students. $3 50. Coloring Books. $1 25 11:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.Tclc. HI 5/338-4212: 4:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. 815-338-3326 Due to an overwhelming response to these Holiday performances, we recommend that ticket reservations be made as soon as possible.